Car-coupling



(No Model.)

Patented Sept. 5, 1893.

, r 2M 2 f -iiiL ,40%, m f 7 m w m f m v/ N Z UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

CHARLES H. TAYLOR, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEXV JERSEY.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,637, datedSeptember 5, 1898.

Application filed July 2, 1892. $erial No. 488,795. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of South Orange, in Essex county and State of New Jersey,have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers, of which thefollowing description, taken in connection with the drawings herewithaccompanying, is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of carcouplers known as thevertical-plane coupler, and has for its object to provide a cheap,simple, and positively operating means for automatically moving the hookor knuckle to an open or extended position after being released by itslocking device, that may be located in a position on the exterior of thedrawhead and have connection with the hook or knuckle in such manner asnot to effect the regular or usual operation or working of the couplerin case of the removal, breakage or other accident that might occur tosuch knuckle opening device. This object I attain by means of theconstruction illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafterset forth in detail and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawingsz-Figure 1, represents a side view of thedraw-head of a coupler, with a portion thereof broken away, showing myimproved knuckle opening device. Fig. 2, represents a bottom view of thesame. Fig. 3, represents a portion of the draw-head broken away, showinga modification in the means of connection between the pivot-pin or armof the knuckle and its operating spring, and, Fig. 4, represents abottom view of the same. Fig. 5, represents a modification to behereinafter referred to.

To explain in detail,-a represents the draw-head, and b the hook orknuckle which, in the present instance shown, is hinged to saiddraw-head by means of a pivot-pin b in the usual manner. According to mypresent invention, 1 make the said pivot-pin fast with the hook orknuckle in a manner to turn or rotate therewith, by means of a pin 71which unites the same, although it is obvious that any other suitablemeans may be employed for connecting or making said parts fast with eachother, the method or means of uniting the same not afiecting the spiritof my invention. The lower end of the pivot-pin b which forms an arm ofthe hook or knuckle by reason of its being made fast therewith, islengthened in this instance, to project below the lower surface of thedraw-head a greater distance than usual in order to form a support for acoiled spring 0 which is located thereon with its upper or still endhaving connection with, or a bearing against, a portion of the draw-headand its opposite or lower end having connection with the outer end ofthe cotterpin b located in the arm or pivot-pin 19' adjacent to itslower end. This spring exerts a pressure on the said cotter-pin in adirection to turn or move the connecting hook or knuckle b to an open orextended position automatically, when released by its locking device, aswill be readily understood. The upper end or portion of the spring 0 isseated within a pocket or depression formed in the lower side of thedraw-head, as clearly shown in the drawings, and has a fixed orstationary connection with the latter by having its end project into acorresponding opening therein as shown, although it is obvious that thesame may have a bearing against a shoulder in the draw-head as shown ata in Fig. 5, in lieu of projecting into an opening as described, andoperate equally well.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2,1 have shown the lower or movable end of thespring 0 as connected with the outer end of the cotterpin located in thearm or pivot-pin b in order to exert a greater force or pressure uponthe arm or pivot-pin b than if connected directly thereto as will beobvious.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, I have shown a modification in the means forconnecting the spring 0 with the arm or pivot-pin Z) of the hook orknuckle of that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this instance, I make thelower end of the arm or pivot-pin b octagon or other similar shape toform several flat or uneven surfaces, and provide a washer or disk (1with a central opening therein corresponding with the end of the arm I),which said washer or disk is adapted to slide or fit on the latter in anon-rotatable position and be held thereon by means of a smallcotter-pin as shown. This washer or disk is provided with a series ofholes or openings cl located therein adjacent to its outer periphery,into which the end of the spring 0 is adapted to be inserted to form anadjustable connection with the disk or washer d to operate the arm or.pivot-pin b and the connecting hook or knuckle in a mannor as beforedescribed. By this means of connection between the spring a and the armor pivot-pin b, the tension of the spring upon the latter may be easilyand readily adjusted to any desired extent, by simply changing the pointof connection between the spring and the washer or disk by shifting theconnectin g end of the spring from one hole to another in the said diskto secure a greater or less degree of tension as will be readilyunderstood. Or if desired, the adjustment of the tension of the spring 0may also be secured by turning the disk or washer on the arm orpivot-pin,which is accomplished by withdrawing the disk or washer fromthe latter and turning the same in a direction to secure a greater orless tension of the spring before slipping it on the said arm orpivot-pin again. The washer or disk d being located on the lower end ofthe arm or pivot-pin I), also serves as a guard for the spring 0 andadjacent parts to protect the same from injury in case the couplershould fall to the ground or be otherwise liable to damage, and thisfeature forms a very essential element when a flat coiled spring isemployed, asis sometimes the case, in lieu of the long coiled springasshown for the reason that a flat coiled spring presents more surface forcontact and therefore it is essential that the same should be protected.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the springattachment 0 may be applied at the upper or head portion of thepivot-pin b in lieu of at the bottom as shown without departing from thespirit of my invention, and the head or flanged portion be provided withperforations and otherwise constructed to serve the functions of thewasher or disk (1 located at the lower end of the pivot-pin asdescribed.

Having thus described my invention, I do not wish to be understood asclaiming broadly a spring for opening the hook or knuckle of a coupler,because I am aware that springs have been employed for the same purposeprior to my invention, but heretofore the springs have been located at apoint within the draw-head and in such position have been found inpractice to be liable to become damaged orotherwise out of order, inwhich case,

by reason of their location, the springs interfere with the properoperation of the coupler until repaired, thus causing much delay,trouble and expense; but according to my invention as herein describedand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I obviate all suchdifficulties as have heretofore been found, by reason of the new andnovel arrangement, location and construction of the parts forming theknuckle opening device, which are independent of the other working oroperating parts of the coupler, and in case of removal, breakage orotheraccident to such knuckle-opening device, it would in no way eifectthe regular working of the coupler, the advantage of which is obvious.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent'of the United States, is-

1. In a car-coupler, the combination with the draw-head, of a hook orknuckle hinged thereto provided with an arm projecting beyond theexterior of said draw-head, a plate or disk having an adjustableconnection with said. arm, and a spring having connection with saidadjustable plate or disk to rotate the same and the connecting hook orknuckle, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a car-coupler, the combination with the draw-head, of a hook orknuckle hinged thereto provided with an arm or pivot-pin having a flangeor disk thereon, and a spring having an adjustable connection at one endwith said flange or disk, substantially as described and for the purposeset forth.

3. In a car-coupler, the combination with the draw-head, of a hook orknuckle hinged thereto provided with an arm or pivot-pin having one endprojecting beyond the exterior of the draw-head and provided with aflange or disk thereon having a series of openings therein, and a springhaving adjustable connection with said flange or disk through the mediumof the openings therein, substantially as described and for the purposeset forth.

CHAS. H. TAYLOR.

Attest:

CHAS. F. DANE, A. L. HAYES.

